GlobalVue™ September 2020 – Projecting 2021 Recovery
Since 2001, William Edwards has published the EGS GlobalVue™ country ranking analysis quarterly based on recent activities in countries, feedback from the in-country EGS GlobalTeam™ covering 43 countries and a continuous review of 40+ international information sources.
The September 2020 GlobalVue™ chart projects how countries will come out of the COVID-91 crisis in 2021.
A downloadable full version PDF covering 40 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle and Near East can be found at this link:
https://edwardsglobal.com/globalvue/
Key to 2021 economic recovery are the projected 2021 Gross Domestic Product growth, political and economic stability or lack thereof and the projected recovery from the pandemic. Of course, there is a high degree of uncertainty today especially as to the timing of a vaccine and political challenges in key countries.
Here are a few countries that are key to obtaining the OECD 5% GDP growth projection for the world in 2021.
| Australia | Mixed pandemic outcome, moderate 2021 growth |
| Brazil | Challenging pandemic outcome, improving economy |
| Chile | Mixed pandemic status, economy will grow in 2021 |
| China | Swift virus recovery, dual economy will have different 2021s |
| Germany | Controlling pandemic, may see 2021 government change |
| India | Huge pandemic impact, chaotic government response |
| Italy | Controlling pandemic, steps being taken on economy |
| Mexico | Poor pandemic response, anti-business government |
| Peru | Poor pandemic response, elections due soon |
| Taiwan | Positive virus control, expanding economy, China (?) |
| Philippines | Negative government pandemic management |
| South Africa | High unemployment, low new investment, corruption |
| Spain | Mixed pandemic response, but strong basic economy |
| Thailand | Pandemic tourism hit limits 2021 economic growth |
| Turkey | Democracy iffy, economy limping along |
| United Kingdom | Mixed pandemic management results and BREXIT |
| Vietnam | Tight virus control, offshoring from China impact |
EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 13, Monday, September 21, 2020
By William (Bill) Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)
“There are two kinds of companies in this pandemic: those doing clever things to deal with the new world….and those who are not”, Pilita Clark
“Every major difficulty you face in life is a fork in the road. You choose which track you will head down, toward breakdown or breakthrough.”, John C. Maxwell
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”, Alan Watts, compliments of Sylvia Adler
“I asked a wise man, ‘tell me sir, in which field could I make a great career?’ He said with a smile, ‘be a good human being. There is a lot of opportunity in this area and very little competition”., Compliments of Brad Weinstein from a LinkedIn post
Introduction
This biweekly newsletter focuses on what is happening in more than 20 countries that impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment and travel. A few highlights:
- This issue we start off by thanking the people around the world who help us curate for our newsletter readers.
- The US$88 trillion world economy by country in one chart
- What happens every minute on the Internet, Articles and Charts section
- Global Trade Returns Faster Than Expected
- U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Designated Airport Restriction
- U.S. Small-business owners gained confidence in the U.S. economy last month, outpacing expectations, according to data from a survey compiled by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
- We have added a new section that highlights what well-known brands are doing to survive and thrive in these times
We constantly monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our team on the ground covers 43 countries and provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries. Please feel free to send us your input and sources of information. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
Many thanks to the people around the world who help us curate our global business newsletter for our 500 global readers:
Ursula Alexio, Brasil, Craig Allen, U.S.-China Business Council, Rym Bedoui, Tunisia, Paul Cairnie, Middle East, Enver Celikbas, Istanbul, Franz-Josef Ebel, Germany, Lauren Ellermeyer, California, Manal El Masry, United Arab Emirates and Egypt, Ferenz Feher, Mexico, Ichiro (Roy) Fujita, Japan, Jason Gehrke, Brisbane, Stewart German, Auckland, Paul Jones, Toronto and China, Robert Jones, Miami and Spanish speaking countries, Gabor Kaczmarczyk, Budapest, Ned Levitt, Toronto, James Liu, Greater China, Simon Lord, Auckland, Iain Martin, United Kingdom and Ireland, Tarsicio Merin, Madrid, Rajeev Manchanda, India, Sean Ngo, SE Asia, Sethaphong (Seth) Phadungpisuth, Bangkok, Gordon Schaeffer, UCLA, Don Southerton, South Korea, Andrew Stearns, Milan, Enrique Tellez, Panama, Norcia Ward-Marin, Colombia, Chris Wingo, Shanghai, Steven Wolfson, Israel, James Young, Melbourne, Rod Young, Sydney and our highly valued U.S. Commercial Service Trade Specialists in 24 countries.
This issue’s chart is the US$88 Trillion World Economy on One Chart
Global Economic Recovery Projections – GeoPolitical Futures, September 18, 2020
Sharp recovery in GDP per country in 2021
International Travel Updates
“U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Designated Airport Restriction: For nearly six months, travelers from certain COVID-19 restricted countries have only been able to enter the United States by passing through one of 15 designated airports and undergoing enhanced health screening. The restriction currently applies to those arriving from, or with recent presence in, China (excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau), Iran, the Schengen region of Europe, the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), Ireland, and Brazil. The 15 designated airports are Boston Logan International, Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Newark Liberty International, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Washington-Dulles International. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that starting on September 14, 2020, this restriction will be lifted.”, Airline Geeks, September 11, 2020
“Vigilance and trust essential if travel bans are to be lifted: If economies are to get moving again, governments will have to strike deals to allow people to cross borders without having to undergo extended periods of quarantine. Travel bans to protect populations from imported Covid-19 infections are preventing the resumption of international commerce and tourism, and cannot remain in place indefinitely. If economies are to get moving again, governments have to explore so-called travel bubbles by striking deals to allow people to cross borders without having to undergo extended periods of quarantine.
The challenge is ensuring that restrictions make communities feel safe, but are not so cumbersome that travellers are deterred.”, South China Morning Post, September 9, 2020
“These are the 40+ countries Americans can visit: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica (some states), Croatia, The Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Honduras, Ireland (sort of), Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, The Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Panama, Rwanda, St. Barths, St. Lucia, Saint Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia (maybe), South Korea (sort of), Tanzania, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (Dubai only), United Kingdom (sort of).”, The Points Guy, September 13, 2020 See this link for the ‘details’.
“Around the World, Flights to Nowhere Grow in Popularity: How much do you miss flying? Not, mind you, flying to a specific destination — just the act of boarding a flight and spending several hours in the air? With many countries restricting travel due to the pandemic, a new phenomenon has taken root in a few spots around the globe: the flight to nowhere.”, InsideHook, September 19, 2020
“Cathay Pacific and Prenetics to launch London-Hong Kong digital health passport in October in bid to ease travel: Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong start-up Prenetics are set to launch a digital health passport that allows travellers to show their negative Covid-19 test results on a mobile app before boarding, potentially easing international travel and establishing a new model to help airlines and airports ride out the health crisis. The pilot will kick-off on the Hong Kong-London route from October, Prenetics told the South China Morning Post. The partners are working in collaboration with Swiss-based non-profit The Commons Project, which is backed by the Rockefeller Foundation.”, South China Morning Post, September 18, 2020
“United Airlines Is Launching 3 New Nonstop Routes to Africa: Plus new flights to Bangalore and New Delhi in India and Kona and Maui in Hawaii. “We’re really focused on rethinking the network,” says Patrick Quayle, United Airlines’ vice president of international network and alliances. ‘We’re not just looking at adding everything back the way it was prior to the coronavirus, and so what we’re looking at trying to do is come up with more convenient travel.’ Part of that strategy includes launching new nonstop routes to Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria, from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. The routes will operate three times a week on Boeing Dreamliner 787-8s starting in spring 2021. The airline is also launching a year-round, daily nonstop from Newark Liberty International Airport to Johannesburg. When the route launches next spring, it will be the only roundtrip nonstop to the South African city operated by a U.S. airline. Typically, U.S. fliers heading to countries in Africa have to connect in Europe or the Middle East.”, Conde Nast Traveler, September 9, 2020
“Second Carnival Corporation Ship Returns To Cruising in Europe: The second Carnival Corporation cruise ship, Costa Diadema, is returning to service on Saturday, another sign that slowly but sure, the industry is getting back on track. Costa Diadema is among the first of Carnival Corporation’s ships to return to service. This is the second Costa Cruises’ ship to return to the sea with passengers.”, Cruise Radio, September 19, 2020
Global Trade Update
“Global trade is rebounding much more quickly this year than it did after the 2008 financial crisis, lifting parts of the world economy and defying predictions the pandemic could send globalization into permanent retreat. When the new coronavirus hit earlier this year, international trade in goods suffered the biggest year-over-year drop since the Great Depression. Economists warned of rising protectionism, and some companies said they would reassess overseas supply chains that were vulnerable to unexpected shocks. Trade remains below pre-pandemic levels. Still, it has snapped back robustly—and had recovered about half of this year’s historic loss by June, according to calculations by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2020
Australia
“Victorian Government announces unprecedented $3 billion support for businesses: An extra $3 billion in cash grants, tax relief and cashflow support will be made available to Victorian businesses in a bid to keep them afloat during the extended coronavirus shutdown. In what Premier Daniel Andrews described as “the biggest package of business support in the history of this state”, more than $1 billion of that funding will support small and medium sized businesses that are most affected by the restrictions.”, News.com.au, September 13, 2020
“Australia’s COVID-19 hotspot on track for easing curbs, faces three lawsuits: Australia’s Victoria state on Wednesday said the daily rise in infections in its coronavirus hot spot of Melbourne has eased further, putting it on course to relax an extended hard lockdown in the city by the end of the month. Construction sites, manufacturing plants, warehouses and childcare facilities can reopen, allowing more than 100,000 workers to return to their jobs, if the 14-day rolling average is under 50 cases as of Sept. 28. The state has set a much tougher target of a 14-day average of five cases for lifting a nightly curfew, allowing people out of home for more than two hours a day, and reopening more businesses in Melbourne from Oct 26.”, Reuters, September 15, 2020
Canada
“Air Canada to Offer Travelers Free COVID-19 Insurance: Air Canada (AC) will offer complimentary COVID-19 insurance in partnership with Manulife, a Canadian insurance company, to travelers with new international trip bookings made in Canada between September 17 and October 31, 2020, with the coverage applying to travel completed by April 12, 2021.”, Airways magazine, September 20, 2020
Canada
“Ottawa extending its widely criticized pandemic rent-relief program: Ottawa will extend its widely criticized pandemic rent-relief program for small businesses for a final month as officials weigh options to overhaul it. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed the news in a press release Tuesday. The Globe and Mail first reported on Saturday that the program would be extended through September while Ottawa considered changing its structure. Many small businesses saw revenue collapse immediately as jurisdictions entered pandemic lockdowns in March. Main Streets all over the country are now dotted with for-lease signs as entrepreneurs spent the past six months struggling to keep up with fixed costs – the biggest of which is usually rent. Ottawa announced the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program in late April to help with these costs by offering landlords forgivable loans worth half their tenants’ rent if they absorbed a quarter of the rent and the tenants paid the final quarter. But the program required that landlords make the application – and very few did.”, The Globe and Mail, September 8, 2020
Mainland China
“China economy’s broad recovery from coronavirus continues, as retail sales grow for first time in 2020: Industry, retail and investment all showed marked improvements in August, as the Chinese economy continued its broad-based recovery from the ravages of the coronavirus earlier this year, according to new data released by the National Bureau of Statistics…”, South China Morning Post, September 14, 2020
“Chinese Car Sales Rise at Fastest Rate in More Than Two Years: Heavy discounts and new-model debuts propel a second-half recovery in the world’s largest auto market. Retail passenger-car sales in the country increased by 8.9% last month from a year earlier to 1.7 million vehicles, the China Passenger Car Association said Tuesday, marking the strongest rate of growth since May 2018. It represented the second straight month in which sales outpaced those of the same month last year. Car sales to individual customers had declined by 3.4% in the April-to-June period compared with a year earlier before bouncing back in July with a year-on-year increase of 7.7%.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2020
“Occupancy Rates for China’s Hotels Show First Year-Over-Year Growth Since Pandemic’s Start: Even if recent occupancy gains are tied to a blip in the holiday calendar, Chinese hotels continue to see a coronavirus economic recovery pattern that is the envy of the world.”, Skift, September 18, 2020
“China’s retiring ‘baby boomers’ a shot in the arm for tourism, fitness and insurance sectors: Credit Suisse: China’s “baby boomers” are nearing retirement and will spend more on travel, health foods and commercial insurance than earlier generations, according to Credit Suisse. The upcoming retirement of about 245 million people – about a fifth of China’s population – will lead to business opportunities for a host of industries, the Swiss investment bank’s China Quantitative Insight (CQi) team said in a report recently. Much like the United States after the second world war, China witnessed a spike in birth rates in the 1960s following the end of the Great Famine. This was a lucky generation, entering adulthood when China began its great reform and opening up in 1978 that would eventually led to the economy ballooning 90 times in the following four decades.”, South China Morning Post, September 14, 2020
“AmCham China Charter Flight Arrives in Beijing: History was made on Sunday as AmCham China’s Back to Work Charter Flight became the first such flight from the US to fly directly into Beijing since the pandemic began, as well as the first multi-company charter flight from any country to fly directly into the capital, as 87 passengers made the trip from San Francisco. The charter flight – a Boeing 787-9 aircraft – has been months in the making since China first effectively closed its borders to foreign nationals at the end of March. Since that moment, the Chamber has led extensive efforts to bring member executives and their families back to China, first through surveying the wider membership to find out where the most members were located, and then through lengthy negotiations with key stakeholders, most notably the Beijing government, who gave the green light for this charter flight at the end of August.”, AmCham China, September 14, 2020
Colombia
“Spirit Airlines Becomes First International Carrier to Resume Operations to Colombia
From Sept. 19, Spirit Airlines will restart direct flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), to Cartagena, Colombia. Spirit will be the first international airline to resume operations to Colombia. This flight will arrive to Cartagena at 12:36 (UTC-5) and would leave again to Fort Lauderdale at 13:36 (UTC-5). Additionally, Spirit will restart flights from Bogotá, Medellín and Cali to Fort Lauderdale from Sept. 21.”, Airline Geeks, September 20, 2020
El Salvador
“Avianca To Resume Its International Operations From El Salvador: After more than six months without operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Avianca has announced it is ready to gradually resume its flights from its hub in El Salvador on September 19, once the authorities allow the arrival and departure of international flights to the country.”, Airline Geeks, September 14, 2020
France
“France tries to salvage failed StopCovid tracing app as cases surge: When the pandemic was raging across Europe last spring, many politicians and health experts were optimistic that a new generation of tracing apps could eventually help keep COVID-19 at bay. France was one of the many countries to seize on this idea, but its controversial approach has failed to have an impact and is instead becoming a cautionary tale. In a report issued this week, a national committee charged with reviewing the nation’s COVID-19 response called for the government to reinvest in promoting the app, which has so far generated few notifications. In theory, someone who has the app installed on their smartphone will receive a notification if they have recently crossed paths with someone who reported a positive diagnosis via the same app.”, Venture Beat, September 18, 2020
Israel
“Emirates to Begin Flights Between UAE and Israel: As relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel continue to improve, Emirates has received approval to launch flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv.”, Airlines Geeks, September 18, 2020
“Israel marks Jewish New Year with second lockdown: Israel is entering a second nationwide lockdown to curb surging coronavirus cases, just as people begin to mark the start of Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is traditionally a time for big, family get-togethers. But under the new three-week lockdown, Israelis must stay within 1km (0.6 miles) of their homes, with exceptions, and the number of people allowed in synagogues has been greatly reduced.”, BBC News, September 18, 2020
Italy
“Rome Fiumicino Airport Awarded 5-Star SkyTrax COVID-19 Airport Rating: The COVID-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc on commercial aviation over the past months has caused the traveling public to modify the parameters used to evaluate the service they receive when they board an aircraft or they transit through an airport. Therefore, SkyTrax Ratings — the World Airline and Airport Star Rating program that has been providing their ratings since 1999 — has launched a new airport ranking aiming to evaluate airport based on its COVID-19 procedures and facilities.”, Airlines Geeks, September 21, 2020
Japan
“Tokyo lowers alert level as coronavirus fears ease: Tokyo’s government on Thursday dropped its coronavirus alert by one notch from the highest level as cases continue to trend down, opening the path for a loosening of restrictions on night-time activity. ‘Regarding the infection situation, we have lowered one level down to orange from the highest level of red. But, we need to be cautious about increases again,’ Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said at a coronavirus response meeting.”, Reuters, September 10, 2020
New Zealand
“New Zealand ends all pandemic restrictions outside main city of Auckland: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday lifted all coronavirus restrictions across the country, except in second-wave hotspot Auckland, as the number of new infections slowed to a trickle. Some restrictions were also eased in Auckland to allow gatherings of up to 100 people, but the country’s biggest city needed more time before all curbs could be lifted, Ardern said.”, Reuters, September 20, 2020
Peru
“Peruvian Government Announces Oct. 1 Restart of International Flights: Peruvian Minister of Transport and Communications Carlos Estremaydoro indicated that the country’s sanitation protocols necessary to begin international service will be defined this month in concordance with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and airlines representatives. As a result, airlines should be able to begin international flying on Oct. 1.”, Airline Geeks, September 8, 2020
Singapore
“Singapore August exports rise 7.7% year/year, higher than forecasts: Singapore’s August non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 7.7% from a year earlier, beating forecasts, official data showed on Thursday, helped by items such as non-monetary gold and specialised machinery.”, Reuters, September 17, 2020
“Singapore rolls out Covid tracing tokens: Singapore is distributing thousands of devices that can track where a person has been and who they have interacted with. The small bluetooth device is meant for those who do not own smartphones and cannot use a contact tracing app that was previously rolled out by the Singapore government. While there are some concerns over about data protection, authorities say the token helps vulnerable groups to feel safer when out and about. For instance, the token helps elderly people keep a precise record of their whereabouts.”, BBC News, September 19, 2020
Sweden
“Sweden beating coronavirus with herd immunity, expert claims: Evidence is mounting that Sweden has beaten the coronavirus epidemic with herd immunity rather than lockdowns, according to a renowned expert on the spread of disease. Sweden’s infection rate has remained low and stable at a time when other European countries are facing a strong resurgence. In Britain there are 69 cases per 100,000 people compared to just 28 for every 100,000 in Sweden which did not implement stringent lockdown measures this spring. The infection rate in France is almost seven times higher than in Sweden and the virus is ten times more prevalent in Spain, both countries that implemented strict lockdowns.”, The Sunday Times of London, September 21, 2020
Thailand
“Thailand Woos Tourists With A New Long Stay Visa: The popular Asian destination has seen a reduction of Covid-19 cases and wants to welcome back foreigners. On 15th September 2020 the Thai Cabinet, as proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, created a new “special tourist visa” for long-stay visitors. One precondition, which is certainly achievable by most, is to agree to a 14 day state quarantine on arrival in Thailand. To qualify for the visa, long-stay visitors are required to show evidence of accommodation beyond the quarantine period. This can be in the form of hotels or other licensed lodging, so long as they comply with the health stipulations as mandated by the Ministry of Public Health.”, Forbes, September 17, 2020
United Kingdom
“The economy recorded its third consecutive month of growth in July, growing 6.6 per cent month-on-month, according to data released this morning by the Office for National Statistics. City economists had forecast a 6.7 per cent month-on-month rise in gross domestic product (GDP), following 8.7 per cent month-on-month growth in June. More than two thirds of the growth came from service industries — including pubs, restaurants and hotels — as lockdown restrictions eased, the ONS reported. Despite the growth, however, the ONS calculates that the UK economy is still 11.7 per cent smaller than in February, before the full impact of the coronavirus hit.”, The Times of London, September 10, 2020
“UK’s Johnson to levy 10,000 pound fine on COVID-19 rule-breakers: People in England who break new rules requiring them to self-isolate if they have been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 will face a fine of up to 10,000 pounds ($12,914), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday.”, Reuters, September 19, 2020
“Downing Street threatens to shut bars that let in too many people: Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty will warn this morning that the nation is at ‘a critical point in the pandemic’. Last night Downing Street warned the UK is ‘in the last chance saloon’ as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Boris Johnson expected to set out plans for new restrictions this week which could last for up to six months. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was today unable to guarantee that pubs will still be open at the weekend.”, The Daily Mail, September 21, 2020
United States
“U.S. Small Business Optimism Up In August: Small-business owners gained confidence in the U.S. economy last month, outpacing expectations, according to data from a survey compiled by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The NFIB Optimism Index rose 1.4 points in August to 100.2, slightly above the historical 46-year average. Seven of the 10 Index components improved, two declined, and one was unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased two points in August to 90, the second-highest reading since 2017. “Small businesses are working hard to recover from the state shutdowns and effects of Covid-19,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “We are seeing areas of improvement in the small business economy, as job openings and plans to hire are increasing, but many small businesses are still struggling and are uncertain about what the future will hold.’”, Franchising. Com, September 17, 2020
“Study Finds Consumers Returning To Stores, But Shopping Habits Have Changed: As Covid-19 lockdown measures continue to be scaled back around the world, almost three-quarters of global consumers (71%) now report feeling comfortable returning to physical stores, according to research by Mood Media entitled ‘Shopper Sentiments: A September 2020 Global Mood Survey.’ But their shopping habits have changed and they see a “return to normal” as still being a ways off.”, Franchising.com, September 9, 2020
“Planning to fly for the holidays? 6 things to know before you book: Airfares may be much lower, but passengers who book for Thanksgiving or Christmas should make backup plans, too…. For those willing to buy a ticket, the flying future is shifting in more dramatic ways, too—for this season and beyond.”, Fortune, September 19, 2020
Brand News – a new section highlighting what major brands are doing to survive and grow in these times
“Burger King unveils ‘touchless’ store concept with suspended kitchens, conveyor belts and canopies: Burger King has unveiled a new ‘touchless’ concept store, designed to meet the challenges of doing business during a pandemic, and adapt to the ‘new normal’. The new stores will feature physically contactless experiences, such as mobile ordering and curbside pick-up areas, as well as drive-in and walk-up order areas. ‘In March our in-house design and tech team accelerated new restaurant design plans and pushed the limits of what a Burger King restaurant could be,’ said Josh Kobza, COO at Restaurant Brands International. ‘We took into consideration how consumer behaviours are changing and how our guests will want to interact with our restaurants. The result is a new design concept that is attractive to guests and will allow our franchisees to maximise their return.’ The ‘touchless’ store is expected to provide multiple ordering and delivery modes, and boast a physical footprint 60% smaller than a traditional Burger King restaurant.”, Smartcompany.com.au, September 8, 2020
“Chili’s parent company CEO says new virtual delivery-only restaurant first of other, similar concepts: Brinker International, parent company of Chili’s and Maggiano’s, discussed the concept behind It’s Just Wings during calls with investors and the media, Restaurant Business Online reports. According to him, the delivery-only restaurant is just the first of a developing portfolio of similar concepts that the company is developing. It’s Just Wings is reportedly already generating revenue at an annual rate that will exceed $150 million. The delivery-only restaurant uses kitchens across various Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurants and makes deliveries through DoorDash, MarketWatch reports.”, Fox Business, August 16, 2020
“Chipotle’s Chief Says the Online Boom Will Outlast the Pandemic: CEO Brian Niccol wants to protect employees, but won’t require them to get vaccinated. As the pandemic made people hesitant or unable to eat inside its restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. saw its online orders and delivery business take off. CEO Niccol thinks much of that digital business is here to stay.”, Bloomberg, Businessweek, September 16, 2020
“Starbucks continues on the road to recovery as sales performance is almost completely back to normal in China; with flat sales in August representing a major improvement from negative 10% sales in July, according to chief financial officer Patrick Grismer who gave an update on the company at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Starbucks’ U.S. performance, however, has a longer road ahead, and Grismer predicted that it will take six more months to completely recover. Sales incrementally improved from negative 14% in July to negative 11% in August as the company continues to reopen cafes and dining rooms. At this point, about 3% of their stores remain closed, and about half of the stores have seating available. Grismer noted that at cafes that have opened, drive-thrus — which represent about 60% of the company’s portfolio — have boosted sales significantly at a time when food traffic is still low. ‘We’ve seen that as we’ve progressively opened our ordering and sales channels, from drive-thru to entry way pick-up to in-store ordering and seating, sales have improved and they’re continuing on that path,’ Grismer said. ‘Looking ahead, we expect three key initiatives will fuel our future recovery in the US: first, the deployment of handheld POS at the drive-thru; second, the roll-out of curbside pick-up where we have convenient parking; and third, today, the launch of Stars for Everyone.’”, National Restaurant News, September 16, 2020, compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto and China
“This week Texas Chicken™ (Church’s Chicken™) had a virtual conference success story. While everything seems to be online nowadays, being online isn’t always negative! Texas Chicken hosted a multi-day International Virtual Summit that spanned 16 time zones while promoting a “Stronger Together” theme to unite teams worldwide. The event brought franchisees, corporate brand leadership, and field team members together to celebrate their alignment on strategic goals accompanied by an energetic display of faces on a single platform. Through this event, Texas Chicken honored their people worldwide through various awards. ‘We respect and recognize our international franchisees in the 26 countries in which we operate. Their commitment and ability to face the challenges of 2020 is worthy of applause and recognition,’ said Joe Christina, Chief Executive Officer.”, Franchising.com, September 14, 2020, compliments of Brianne Barbakoff, Ink Link Marketing
Articles And Charts About Doing Business in The Times Of COVID-19 and Beyond
“Here’s What Happens Every Minute on the Internet in 2020: Data never sleeps”, Visual Capitalist, September 15, 2020
“The Shape of Economic Recovery, According to CEOs: Is the glass half full, or half empty? Whenever the economy is put through the ringer, levels of optimism and pessimism about its potential recovery can vary greatly. The current state mid-pandemic is no exception. This graphic first details the various shapes that economic recovery can take, and what they mean. We then dive into which of the four scenarios are perceived the most likely to occur, based on predictions made by CEOs from around the world.
“It’s Go Time for Digital Transformation: If people had doubts about the new capabilities that companies everywhere are implementing as part of digital transformations, the response to the COVID-19 crisis appears to have put them to rest. The vast majority of both managers and employees believe that these capabilities helped counter the effects of the pandemic and will aid businesses in getting back on their feet once the crisis is over, according to a new survey commissioned by Boston Consulting Group.”, August 4, 2020
“What 12,000 Employees Have to Say About the Future of Remote Work: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to economic, health, and social devastation, it has also created an unprecedented opportunity: to run the world’s biggest-ever workplace experiment. This experience is yielding fascinating insights that have significant implications for the way we should organize work. To assess employee sentiment on these changes, from the end of May through mid-June we surveyed more than 12,000 professionals employed before and during COVID-19 in the US, Germany, and India.”, Boston Consulting Group, August 2020
Who We Are And What We Do
Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for U.S. businesses Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets and providing operational support around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working in many countries. Our Associate network on the ground overseas covers 40+ countries.
Founded in 2001, Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) takes U.S. businesses global and currently has activity in 25 countries. Our Clients are all consumer-faced brands. Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence
Find out more about the services we provide U.S. companies Going Global at: www.edwardsglobal.com
William Edwards, CFE, is CEO and Global Advisor of Edwards Global Services (EGS). He has 46 years of international operations, development, executive and entrepreneurial experience and has lived in 7 countries. With experience in the franchise, oil and gas, information technology and management consulting sectors, he has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East. Mr. Edwards advises a wide range of companies on early to long term global development of their brands.
For global cross business sectoral updates and advice, contact Mr. Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.
EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 12, Tuesday, September 8, 2020
By William (Bill) Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)
“A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.” Winston Churchill
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.”. Rafiki, from ‘The Lion King’
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”, Thomas A. Edison
Introduction
This issue is coming out on a Tuesday due to the Monday USA national holiday.
This issue focuses on what is happening in more than 20 countries that impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment and travel. A few highlights:
- The 40+ sources of information we monitor and curate for this biweekly newsletter are listed below
- The DLA Piper Guide To Going Global Series for 2020 is a powerful database on how to doing business in 54 countries. August 2020
- Visualizing The Social Media Universe in 2020 graphically displaying the 21 top social media networks worldwide
- For much needed fun in these times, scroll down to Sweden: “A Tiny Record Store For Mice Has Arrived In Sweden”
- Projected World Population 2100: “Will the global population surpass 10 billion by the end of the century?
Sources of Information for the EGS Biweekly Global Business Update Newsletter
We constantly monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our team on the ground covers 43 countries and provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries. Please feel free to send us your input and sources of information. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.
This issue we start off by listing some of information sources we currently monitor worldwide and then curate for our newsletter readers. Here are the sources we currently monitor:
ABC News, Airline Geeks, airwaysmag.com, AmCham China, Associated Press, Australian Retail Association, Axios, BBC.com, The Bangkok Post, Bloomberg, Boston Consulting Group, British Museum Friends, Business Insider, caixinglobal.com, Conde Nast Traveler, CBS News, CNBC, CNN Traveler, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, Denver Business Journal, Deutsche Bank Research, District Export Council, The Evening Standard, EdgeDweller.net, Economist.com, Economist Intelligence Unit, Executive Next Practices (ENP), Fast Company magazine, ft.com, Forbes, Fox News, Franchise.com, The Franchise Advisory Centre (Brisbane), Franchise New Zealand magazine, FUNG Business Intelligence Group, The London Guardian, Geopolitical Futures, Global Chamber, The Globe And Mail, Global Franchise magazine, INC.com, The Independent, iMore.com, John Wiley & Sons Legal firm, LinkedIn, Lonely Planet, McKinsey & Company, Mexico Business Daily, Miami Herald, Nation’s Restaurant News, National Geographic, New Zealand Herald, thepointsguy.com, Radio.com, Reuters.com, The Singapore Times, skift.com, Sky News, South China Morning Post, Stratfor, The London Sunday Times , Tech Republic, Travel + Leisure, The Times of London, Timeout UK, USA Today, Viator, Visual Capitalist, wsj.com, The Washington Post, Wilson Perumal & Company, WIRED magazine, World Affairs Council, World Bank, World Economic Forum, Yahoo Finance and 9to5MAC.
Visualizing The Social Media Universe in 2020
“Take a look at how social networks compare in terms of monthly active users (MAUs)—an industry metric widely used to gauge the success of these platforms.”, Visual Capitalist, August 28, 2020
Go to this link to see a graphical presentation on the social media universe today covering the 21 largest social media networks and their details.
International Travel Updates
“Just How Risky Is It To Fly In A Pandemic? Although borders are now open between some countries and domestic flights available, many travelers are still afraid to fly. The thought of being in an enclosed space like an aircraft with a bunch of strangers can seem counter-intuitive, despite all the reassurances from airlines. Studies have been done about the spread of disease in the past, but documented cases of passengers contracting a serious illness on an aircraft are rare. Before COVID-19, there were also no flights where everyone, including the crew, was wearing a mask or such care was taken over cleaning the aircraft. A study from scientists led by Professor Arnold Barnett at MIT recently looked into the risk of catching COVID-19 on a flight.”, Forbes, August 27, 2020
“United CEO says air travel demand will roar back once there’s a coronavirus vaccine: “We’ve got a tough year ahead until there’s a vaccine,” Kirby answered. ‘The good news is, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.’ This is the world of Kirby a little over 100 days into his tenure as CEO. Despite aggressive cost cuts, United is still burning through an estimated $40 million every single day. The airline has parked about 40% of its fleet and could cut up to 36,000 jobs starting Oct. 1. As bleak as the outlook is for United and the airline industry as a whole, Kirby believes demand will come roaring back once there’s a vaccine for Covid-19.”, CNBC, August 31, 2020
“How Airports, Hotels, and Restaurants Are Embracing the New Normal: Once-familiar spaces have seen big changes in the past few months. Even more innovations are coming soon — and that’s nothing but a good thing. If you ventured out recently, you already know the drill: masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer, plus plexiglass screens and more frequent cleaning at airports, hotels, and restaurants. But deeper changes will soon complement the quickly implemented hygiene protocols and MacGyver-style hacks introduced this spring and summer.”, Travel + Leisure, September 7, 2020
“How clean is the air on planes? High-tech filters and low-tech masks: How technology and personal responsibility might make flying safer than you think….. Thanks to HEPA filters and efficient circulation on commercial aircrafts, the air you breathe in flight—though not necessarily entirely virus-free—is much cleaner than the air in restaurants, bars, stores, or your best friend’s living room. Here’s why you don’t need to fear the air up there.’, National Geographic, August 28, 2020
“SAS Set to Operate Entire Network This Fall: Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is slated to boost the number of flights it will operate and reinstate more destinations in Europe, the U.S. and Asia throughout autumn as the airline continues to see a rise in demand for travel and transport to, from and within Scandinavia. Scandinavia’s ‘domestic”’ flights — those within Sweden, Norway and Denmark — will cover almost the airline’s entire pre-COVID-19 network when it resumes flights from Stavanger, Norway to Trondheim, Norway and from Stockholm to Ronneby and Sundsvall, both in Sweden. With the flight expansion, SAS will increase accessibility and maintain essential air service to small communities in Scandinavia.”, Airline Geeks, August 31, 2020
“China calls for U.S. visitors to show negative COVID-19 tests: China will demand that passengers taking direct flights from the U.S. provide negative coronavirus test results within 72 hours before takeoff starting Sept. 15, China’s U.S. embassy said in a statement. People who transit in the U.S. ahead of a flight to China will be asked to submit health declarations to airlines or hold a green health code, per the statement.”, Axios, September 5, 2020
“American, Delta and United plan to add 15 long-haul international routes in September: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will resume as many as 15 long-haul international routes in September, even as the return of flights during the coronavirus pandemic slows. If schedules hold, Accra (ACC), Barcelona (BCN), Buenos Aires (EZE), Lagos (LOS), Mumbai (BOM) and Rome (FCO) are all due to see their first U.S. airline-operated flights since the pandemic began. However, as in months past, the plans remain subject to change until flights are actually in the air. For example, American and United’s flights to Hong Kong remain suspended due to local COVD-19 testing concerns. The Star Alliance carrier has postponed plans to add flights between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Hong Kong this month after a more than year-long hiatus.”, The Points Guy, September 2, 2020
“Airlines urge UK, U.S. to start London-New York passenger testing trial: Major airlines want the U.S. and British governments to launch a passenger testing trial for the coronavirus for flights between London and New York to pave the way for a resumption of more international travel. In a letter to government transportation officials seen by Reuters, the chief executives of Airlines for America, Airlines UK, Heathrow Airport and Virgin Atlantic Airways said both governments should “establish passenger testing solutions in air travel. ‘We believe that in the immediate absence of a vaccine, testing of passengers in aviation provides the best and most effective frontline defense.’ They urged the governments to establish a testing trial between New York and London by month’s end ‘to gather real world evidence and data.’”, Reuters, September 3, 2020
“Etihad to provide COVID-19 insurance to passengers to boost travel confidence: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways on Monday said it would cover medical and quarantine costs for passengers if they contract the new coronavirus after traveling on one of its flights. Medical costs of up to 150,000 euros ($177,000) and quarantine costs of up to 100 euro a day for 14 days will be covered by Etihad for its passengers who contract the disease within 31 days of first travel.”, Reuters, September 6, 2020
“United Places Bets on Latin America, Hawaii in October Schedule: United will fly 46% of its 2019 domestic schedule in October – compared to 38% in September – and 33% of its October 2019 international schedule, compared with 29% in September.”, Airline Geeks, September 5, 2020
Asean Countries
“Reimagining emerging ASEAN in the wake of COVID-19: A focus on five key levers could both accelerate the region’s recovery and make the gains more enduring….. McKinsey’s research on emerging ASEAN countries explored a series of trends that the pandemic has caused or accelerated. Within these trends lie the potential recipe for recovery, but stakeholders must be prepared to reimagine their country’s economy. Five key levers—manufacturing hubs, green infrastructure, investments in digital, talent reskilling, and high-value food industries—could not only speed up the economic recovery in these countries but also lay the foundation for extended growth.”, McKinsey & Company, September 2, 2020
Australia
“Australia extends ban on people leaving the country until December: Australian citizens and permanent residents will have been barred from leaving for almost nine months by the end of the year. The “Human Biosecurity Emergency Period” has been in place since March and prevents Australian citizens or permanent residents from leaving the nation’s shores. It can only be circumvented with permission from the government, which must be approved beforehand.”, Sky News, September 3, 2020
“Metcash reaps benefits as consumers shop more locally: Metcash says sales continue to benefit from the change in consumer behaviour since the advent of Covid-19. Chairman Robert Murray said consumers have been shopping more in their local neighbourhoods since the advent of Covid-19, bringing new customers to independent Metcash businesses which the company is focusing on ensuring they are retained in the future. In a trading update released at its annual meeting today, CEO Jeff Adams said total sales are up 11.4 per cent in the first quarter of the new trading year, with supermarket sales – excluding tobacco – up by 13.8 per cent.”, Insider Retail Australia, August 26, 2020
“NSW Court offers retailers extended rent relief: The New South Wales supreme court has ruled that retailers could be eligible for a further six months of support after the mandatory code of conduct expires in October. Thousands of small businesses could be impacted by the decision, which found landlords cannot effectively kick a tenant out of a premises until after a “reasonable subsequent recovery period”, which could range as far as six months. The decision was handed down on a case between retailer Sneakerboy and its landlord Georges Properties, in which Sneakerboy was found to have been unfairly removed from its store and had its lease terminated.”, Inside Retail Australia, September 2, 2020
Brazil
“Brazil manufacturing PMI hits record high 64.7 in August: IHS Markit: Brazilian manufacturing expanded at a record pace in August, a survey of purchasing managers’ activity showed on Tuesday, extending its solid recovery from the COVID-19 crisis as new orders rose to new peaks and employment hit a 10-year high. IHS Markit’s headline Brazil manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) jumped to 64.7 in August from the previous all-time high of 58.2 in July, the highest level since the index was first compiled in February 2006.”, Reuters, September 1, 2020
Canada
“Canada Extends Foreign Travel Ban And Coronavirus Quarantine Restrictions: On Friday, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced via Twitter that the Canadian federal government has decided to extend travel restrictions by at least an additional month to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions will be extended until September 30 and could even be extended again. Originally the quarantine mandate was set to expire on August 31. In his tweet, Blair stated that: ‘Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month – until September 30, 2020 – to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities.’ He went on to tweet ‘Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to Canada will continue to be subject to strict quarantine measures.’”. Forbes, September 2, 2020
“Canada to extend rent-relief program for small businesses: Globe and Mail: The Canadian government will extend its coronavirus rent-relief program for small businesses into September, the Globe and Mail reported late on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the policy discussions. The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program offered loans to landlords of entrepreneurs worth half the tenant’s rent from April through August, if tenants pay a quarter and the landlord absorbs the remaining quarter.”, Reuters, September 6, 2020
Chile
“Chile central bank softens 2020 recession projection, expects stabilization: Chile’s central bank on Wednesday softened its prediction for an economic contraction in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus on the world’s top copper producer to between -4.5% and -5.5% from the 5.5% and 7.5% contraction it foresaw in June.”, Reuters, September 2, 2020
Mainland China
“Fast-food chain Yum China bags $2bn in Hong Kong listing: Chinese operator of KFC and Pizza Hut prices shares in latest ‘homecoming’ offering. Yum China has raised more than $2bn from a secondary share sale in Hong Kong, marking the latest ‘homecoming’ listing by a major US-listed Chinese company…Total proceeds of HK$17.3bn ($2.2bn) would be spent on expanding the company’s restaurant network and investing in ‘digitalisation,’ it said.”, The Financial Times, September 4, 2020
“U.S. Businesses’ Commitment To China Market “Strong And Intact”: Forbes China Forum: A long-term commitment by U.S. businesses to China’s market is ‘quite strong and intact’ despite currently strained political ties between the two countries, a former China diplomat and business association leader (Kenneth Jarrett) said at the ‘U.S.-China Business Forum’ organized by Forbes China on Wednesday.”, Russel Flannery, Forbes, August 28, 2020
“China’s service industries catching up as life returns to normal after coronavirus shock wave slammed economy: August’s official non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) jumped to 55.2 from 54.2 in July, reaching the highest level since January 2018. The rise was driven by the service sector, which climbed to 54.3 in August from 53.1 in July as cinemas and hotels have slowly returned to normal operations.”, South China Morning Post, August 31, 2020
“The Chinese consumer: Resilient and confident: Two China-based McKinsey partners impart advice on how companies can succeed in China’s fast-recovering consumer market. Even as many parts of the world continue to battle the COVID-19 crisis and its knock-on effects, much of China has reopened: people are going out, streets are bustling, and businesses have resumed almost-normal operations. In this episode of the McKinsey on Consumer and Retail podcast, McKinsey’s Felix Poh and Daniel Zipser discuss the present and future of the Chinese consumer sector. An edited transcript of their conversation with executive editor Monica Toriello is below (at this link).”, McKinsey & Company, September 3, 2020
“China’s Exports Ramp Up as Countries Emerge From Lockdowns: Outbound shipments rose 9.5% in August from a year earlier, picking up pace from the previous month and beating economist forecasts. August marked the third consecutive month that China’s exports outpaced those of the same month last year. It marks a stark turnaround from the start of the year, when the pandemic crippled China’s factories and global shipping networks.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 7, 2020
Sign of the Times: “Guidelines for Emergency Response and Business Continuity Management of Chain Operation Enterprises, a Public Solicitation of Comments”. The China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA) has asked affected businesses for comments on how best for the government to help such businesses cope with “Business interruptions caused by sudden natural disasters, external services or sudden internal operations, etc., will bring huge risks and even significant impacts on corporate operations.”, Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto
Colombia
“Avianca Resumes Operations in Colombia: Avianca announced that on September 1 the carrier will return to the Colombian skies, connecting from Bogotá to destinations such as Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Medellín, Montería, Pereira and San Andrés; From September 7 it will restart operations from Bogotá to Pasto, Santa Marta and Villavicencio, and from Medellín to Cali and Cartagena. The company will apply strict biosecurity protocols that have already been successfully tested on more than 330 special flights transporting more than 34,380 people. Operations will begin with only 12% of what was before COVID-19. The carrier expects that demand and the need for connectivity will rise quickly. In the same way, it will adapt its itineraries, routes and frequencies to the extent that the activation scheme designed by the Civil Aeronautics allows it.”, Airline Geeks, August 29, 2020
Dominican Republic
“Dominican Republic Eliminates Mandatory COVID-19 Tests, Adds Free Insurance As Part of New Tourism Recovery Plan: The new policies will go into effect on Sept. 15. With many Caribbean nations competing for the economic boost of much-needed tourism dollars, the Dominican Republic made some policy changes to make visiting the island a bit easier. As part of its newly announced “Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan,” visitors will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the country, starting Sept. 15. Additionally, mass testing will not be performed at the airport upon arrival, but will instead be done at random.”, Travel + Leisure, September 3, 2020
Europe
“Back to school: how European classrooms are coping with COVID: Schools across Europe are reopening as summer break ends and governments insist that students return to the classroom after months of online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. Countries are taking different approaches to minimise contagion in schools….”, Reuters, September 1, 2020
France
“France Tightens Mask Protocols Amid Gain in Virus Infections: More than 7,000 new cases were reported on Friday, the most since the nation was under a strict lockdown. For the moment, the number of deaths and hospitalizations remains relatively low, with young adults making up the bulk of new contaminations. Still, the French government isn’t taking any chances. From Tuesday, masks will be mandatory for companies with groups working in enclosed spaces, Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne said Sunday on BFM TV. While opera singers are among those who can be granted exemptions, mask-wearing is becoming entrenched in daily life. Cities from Paris to Marseilles are making masks compulsory, even outside, while students over 11 years old will have to cover their faces when returning to school next month.”, Bloomberg, August 30, 2020
Germany
“Germany Expects V-Shaped Economic Rebound From Coronavirus: After experiencing one of the world’s mildest Covid-19 epidemics, Germany is experiencing a faster-than-expected recovery. Germany’s factories and offices remained open during the coronavirus lockdown, which helped to cushion the country’s economy. The country’s gross domestic product should contract by 5.8% this year, a 0.5 percentage-point improvement on earlier forecasts and on par with the decline recorded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the economy ministry said on Tuesday.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2020
India
“India’s turning point: An economic agenda to spur growth and jobs: A clarion call is sounding for India to put growth on sustainably faster track and meet the aspirations of it growing workforce.”, McKinsey & Company, August 26, 2020
Ireland
“Irish pubs make plea to reopen as they endure longest shutdown in Europe: Publicans are demanding the urgent reopening of bars across Ireland, which is now the only country in the EU imposing their closure for health reasons. Ireland’s pubs were shut in March, as coronavirus case numbers began to rise. On 29 June, pubs that could serve a “substantial meal” valued at €9 (£8) were allowed to reopen, subject to strict conditions. However, vintners estimate that 60% of pubs (which don’t serve food and are known as “wet pubs”) remain shut, with owners incurring increasing debt, and with thousands of job losses across the sector.”, Sky News, September 6, 2020
Israel
“Israel has a population of 9 Million inhabitants. 75% are Jewish, 20% Arab and the remaining 5% Christian. The Israel Economy is strong and stable. Often referred to as the “Start Up Nation”, Israel, enjoyed an unemployment rate of 3.8% in 2019, with a GDP per capita of $42,000. Despite the woes of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Israeli economy will still increase by 3% this year, with its currency (New Israeli Shekel) still very stable. Like in many other countries, the job market in Israel during the Covid-19 crisis has been challenged, but Steven Wolfson, EGS associate for Israel, believes that this is actually good for the growing franchising due to easy access of government funding being pumped into the small and medium business sector. Lastly, the recent normalisation of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE will open up many more doors, especially from global brands, heavily invested in the UAE, who were previously hesitant to do business with Israel. This may lead to a new era of global business opportunities for not only Israel, but the Middles East as a whole.
Italy
“Pope has first live audience with pilgrims in six months: A maskless Pope Francis greeted pilgrims at his first general audience with the public in six months this morning, as the Vatican starts a slow return to normality. The pope kept about a yard back as he spoke to some of the 500 people present, who lined up behind a barrier. Smiling, he said he was happy to restart ‘our face-to-face, rather than screen-to-screen meetings’.”, The Sunday Times of London September 2, 2020
Japan
“’Tokyo Olympics Will Take Place Next Year ‘With Or Without Covid,’ Says IOC VP: The Tokyo Summer Olympics will go forward despite the coronavirus, International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates told Agence France-Presse Monday, as Olympics officials still scramble to figure out what the postponed summer games will look like amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Coates said the summer games will start as planned on July 23, 2021 “with or without Covid,” after being postponed for a year amid the pandemic.”, Forbes, September 7, 2020
“Students in Japan return to in-person, but socially distanced classes: While the coronavirus pandemic is keeping many American students at home, children in Japan are back in the classroom. Schools there have been able to reopen because Japan, with about one-third of the U.S. population, has only 1% as many COVID-19 cases.”, CBS News, September 5th, 2020
South Korea
“An Insider’s View. Been on the ground in Korea for 12+ days. COVID 2.5 restrictions in place, 2nd typhoon in 2 weeks, but tackling business as usual. No lack of exciting projects. As a friend shared it’s all about having an insider’s view and connections. Don Southerton, LinkedIn, September 2, 2020
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6706841250630299648-vbmp
New Zealand
“International research involving New Zealanders has found two commonly used drugs help save critically ill patients with Covid-19. To avoid the uncomfortable nasal swabs, Air New Zealand want their crew to take saliva tests for the virus instead. Numbers show they have similar accuracy rates to nasal swabs. And a Nobel Prize-winning economist has labelled New Zealand’s method of response to the pandemic, which he describes as the exact opposite to America’s, as the best in the world.”, New Zealand Herald, September 3, 2020, compliments of Stewart Germann, Stewart German Law Offices, Auckland
Sweden
“A Tiny Record Store For Mice Has Arrived In Sweden: Ricotta Records is the latest installation from mouse-loving art collective AnonyMouse, which calls itself “a loosely connected network of mice and men”, originally from the city of Malmö in southern Sweden. AnonyMouse started building miniature installations for mice in 2016. Since then, the wacky team of ultra-secretive Swedish creatives has unveiled more than 25 projects, including Hair and Furever barbershop, a shelter named Paw to Paw, an Italian bistro called Il Topolino that serves cheese and crackers (what else?), French-inspired nut shop Noix de Vie (or Nuts of Life), boasting every mouse’s favorite treats of hazelnuts, pistachios, and almonds, as well as Paneer Indian restaurant, The Stilton Hotel, Frankie and Benjy’s bookstore, the Moles Antiques, and an entire amousement park.”, Forbes, September 2, 2020
United Arab Emirates
“Emirates (Airlines) To Receive $2 billion State Aid Package: In the midst of massive layoffs and reorganizations of aircraft orders, Emirates has secured a bailout that will give the company some momentary peace of mind. An aid package of 7.3 billion dirhams, or about $ 2 billion, was granted to Emirates by Dubai’s government, which further reported in a document that it is ready to send more aid to the airline. ‘Any additional support will be subject to the requirements of the airline and will depend on the impact and duration of the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic,’ the government’s statement said, per a Reuters report.’, Airline Geeks, September 1, 2020
United Kingdom
“Spending surge lifts services at fastest rate for five years: A surge in spending strengthened the services sector last month, but did not stop companies from laying off more staff owing to fears about tough times to come with the end of government support schemes. The UK services sector grew at its fastest rate in more than five years in August, rising to 59.1 from 57.0 in July.”, The Sunday Times of London, September 3, 2020
“Rush hour returns: traffic up in major cities: Rush-hour congestion rose in many cities today as schools reopened and commuters returned to the office. An analysis of road data showed that traffic worsened in more than half of the UK’s biggest cities this morning compared with the previous week, despite continuing high rates of home working across the UK. In London vehicles suffered delays of 36 per cent during today’s rush hour, a rise from 31 per cent a week earlier. In Nottingham, levels of congestion increased from 27 per cent last week to 49 per cent this morning. However, the figures from TomTom made it clear that towns and cities remain significantly quieter than before the pandemic. It suggests that the government’s repeated calls for people to return to the workplace to boost urban economies were still largely being shunned.”, The Sunday Times of London, September 1, 2020
“Amazon to create 10,000 jobs: Amazon is taking advantage of the surge in online shopping during lockdown to expand in Britain. It plans to create 10,000 permanent jobs over the coming months after increasing its hiring during the lockdown. Amazon, America’s third-largest company, has already hired 3,000 new employees this year and plans to take on a further 7,000 by the end of the year, increasing its headcount in the UK to 40,000. The new positions would include engineers, human resources staff, IT experts, health and safety and finance specialists, as well as workers to pick, pack and ship customer orders.”, The Times of London, September 3, 2020
“With hand-wash and emotional support, pupils return to London school: Primary school children returning to the Harris Academy in London on Thursday will find themselves sitting in rows, regularly washing their hands and supported by teachers who have been trained to provide emotional support after lockdown. Children started to return to schools this week – for many the first time they have been back in full-time education since the spread of COVID-19 forced classes to shut in March. To prevent large gatherings, schools are staggering arrivals, keeping pupils in smaller groups, controlling where they walk in communal areas and requiring the provision of water bottles and pencil cases to prevent sharing. Desks are likely to be placed in rows so pupils do not sit in groups on a table.”, Reuters, September 3, 2020
“Manufacturing recovers amid job loss fears: Output at British manufacturers grew at the fastest pace in more than six years last month, underpinned by the fastest increase in new orders since November 2017. The upturn in domestic demand and signs of recovering exports was put down to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions by the August manufacturing purchasing managers’ index. The index rose to 55.2 from 53.3 in July, the third month of growth it shrank to a record low of 32.6 in April and to 40.7 in May. On the downside, companies remained cautious about hiring staff, with job losses recorded for the seventh month in a row. Business leaders and economists fear more jobs could be lost when the government’s furlough scheme ends at the end of October.”, The Times of London, September 1, 2020
United States
“These restaurant chains are unveiling new designs inspired by the pandemic: Taco Bell, Shake Shack and Burger King are among the restaurant chains who have introduced new designs inspired by the pandemic and its impact on consumer behavior. Among the new features in these designs are more drive-thru lanes. Visits to drive-thrus skyrocketed by 26% in April, May and June, according to data from the NPD Group. Other chains are accelerating plans to update their store formats with a focus on convenience.”, CNBC, September 5, 2020
“California Theme Parks Ready To Reopen With Proper COVID Guidelines: Disneyland, Seaworld, and Universal have announced that they are prepared to open as soon as California health officials provide the necessary requirements and safety guidelines. Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks, products and experiences unit, said the company is waiting for the green light, according to USA Today. “As soon as a date and those guidelines are set, I can tell you, we’re ready,” D’Amaro told Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association trade group Tuesday. All properties including Knott’s Berry Farm have been able to open select shops and dining, but all attractions and rides continue to be closed. Disneyland was prepared to open July 17th, but had to postpone due to spiking coronavirus numbers. All theme parks have been closed since March.”, Radio.com, August 27, 2020, compliments of a LinkedIn post by Doug Gabbard.
“Top 10 Fastest, Biggest, Most In U.S. Trade (Without A Peep About China): And now, 10 of the “fastest,” “biggest” and “most” in the most recent U.S. trade data. After all, we could all use a little good news now and again, no? So, here we go. A story about U.S. trade with Switzerland, Vietnam, Hungary, Cambodia, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Mexico, Honduras and Saudi Arabia. But not a word about China.”, Forbes, September 6, 2020
“8 Countries Americans Can Visit Right Now: To the jetsetters, family vacationers, romantic retreaters, solo voyagers, spring breakers, and everyone who’s travel plans have been interrupted by COVID-19: We feel your pain. While you can’t take an epic Italy or Greece getaway yet, there are still some great options available to venture beyond American borders. If you need to get your wanderlust fix ASAP (or just want some inspiration for the future), we’ve rounded up a few countries to consider.”, Trip Advisor & Viator, September 3, 2020
“New York City Gyms Reopen for First Time Since Pandemic: Crunch, Equinox and others resume operations with ramped up hygiene, health-screening efforts. New York City gyms reopened Wednesday after a five-month lockdown brought about by the novel coronavirus pandemic, giving stir-crazy New Yorkers a long-awaited chance to hit the treadmills and free weights inside. Gyms were among the last businesses in the state to be given the approval to resume operations. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had indefinitely delayed the reopening of gyms in June, citing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in states that had brought them back. But after several weeks of low transmission throughout the state, the governor said in mid-August that he felt comfortable allowing gyms to reopen at significantly reduced capacity.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2020
Articles And Charts About Doing Business in The Times Of COVID-19 and Beyond
The DLA Piper Guide To Going Global Series for 2020 is a powerful database on how to doing business in 54 countries. August 2020
Projected World Population 2100: “Will the global population surpass 10 billion by the end of the century? All signs have pointed to yes – until now. Steadily rising estimates from the United Nations have typically been the status quo. However, recent research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) suggest that the global population may actually start shrinking well before 2100.” Visual Capitalist, September 2, 2020
Possible Changes by 2100: China = 732 million and India = 1.09 billion. Detailed chart at this link
A timely update to the Global Complexity Index 2 done by Wilson Perumal & Company
“4 Methods to Enhance Intentionality at Work: Working harder than ever but getting less done? Then it’s time to incorporate these purposeful practices.”, INC.com, Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), compliments of a LinkedIn Post by Lauren Ellermeyer.
“How Organizations Need To Manage Supply Chain Risk Today: In modern multi-tier supply chains, sourcing needs and production processes are often spread across hundreds of suppliers operating in multiple countries to maximize economic efficiency, usually at the cost of greater transparency and resilience. Market volatility caused by COVID-19, alongside sweeping regulatory changes, has driven companies across various industries to urgently re-evaluate their complex global supply chains to gain control of new and significant supplier risks quickly. Supply chain diversity is essential for successful business operations, but it’s critical that companies evaluate and understand the risk associated with current and potential suppliers in their physical and digital supply chains.”, Forbes, September 7, 2020
Who We Are And What We Do
Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for U.S. businesses Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets and providing operational support around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working in many countries. Our Associate network on the ground overseas covers 40+ countries.
Founded in 2001, Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) takes U.S. businesses global and currently has activity in 25 countries. Our Clients are all consumer-faced brands. Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence
Find out more about the services we provide U.S. companies Going Global at: www.edwardsglobal.com
William Edwards, CFE, is CEO and Global Advisor of Edwards Global Services (EGS). William Edwards has 46 years of international operations, development, executive and entrepreneurial experience and has lived in 7 countries. With experience in the franchise, oil and gas, information technology and management consulting sectors, he has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East. Mr. Edwards advises a wide range of companies on early to long term global development of their brands.
For global cross business sectoral updates and advice, contact Mr. Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.
